Power generator
First Claim
1. A power generator for generating power using a liquid that can alternatively flow at a lower flow rate and at a higher flow rate, the power generator, comprising:
- a conduit, the conduit defining conduit top and bottom portions, wherein, at the lower flow rate, the liquid only flows in the conduit bottom portion, and, at the higher flow rate, the liquid flows both in the conduit top and bottom portions, the conduit also defining a conduit longitudinal axis;
a rotor mounted in the conduit so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to the conduit longitudinal axis, the rotor includinga top set of blades provided in the conduit top portion and including top blades circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the higher flow rate in the conduit; and
a bottom set of blades provided in the conduit bottom portion and including bottom blades circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the lower flow rate in the conduit;
an output shaft protruding from the conduit, at least one of the top and bottom sets of blades being operatively coupled to the output shaft for rotating the output shaft when the liquid rotates the at least one of the top and bottom sets of blades when flowing through the conduit;
wherein the top and bottom blades have different configurations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power generator for generating power using a liquid that can alternatively flow at a lower flow rate and at a higher flow rate. The power generator includes a conduit and a rotor mounted in the conduit so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. The rotor includes a top set of blades provided in a conduit top portion and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the higher flow rate in the conduit. The rotor also includes a bottom set of blades provided in a conduit bottom portion and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the lower flow rate in the conduit. An output shaft protrudes from the conduit and is rotatable by at least one of the top and bottom sets of blades. The top and bottom blades have different configurations.
20 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A power generator for generating power using a liquid that can alternatively flow at a lower flow rate and at a higher flow rate, the power generator, comprising:
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a conduit, the conduit defining conduit top and bottom portions, wherein, at the lower flow rate, the liquid only flows in the conduit bottom portion, and, at the higher flow rate, the liquid flows both in the conduit top and bottom portions, the conduit also defining a conduit longitudinal axis; a rotor mounted in the conduit so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to the conduit longitudinal axis, the rotor including a top set of blades provided in the conduit top portion and including top blades circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the higher flow rate in the conduit; and a bottom set of blades provided in the conduit bottom portion and including bottom blades circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the lower flow rate in the conduit; an output shaft protruding from the conduit, at least one of the top and bottom sets of blades being operatively coupled to the output shaft for rotating the output shaft when the liquid rotates the at least one of the top and bottom sets of blades when flowing through the conduit; wherein the top and bottom blades have different configurations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A power generator for generating power using a liquid that can alternatively flow at a lower flow rate and at a higher flow rate, the power generator, comprising:
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a conduit, the conduit defining conduit top and bottom portions, wherein, at the lower flow rate, the liquid only flows in the conduit bottom portion, and, at the higher flow rate, the liquid flows at least in the conduit top portion, the conduit also defining a conduit longitudinal axis; a rotor mounted in the conduit so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to the conduit longitudinal axis, the rotor including a top set of blades provided in the conduit top portion and including top blades circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the higher flow rate in the conduit; and a bottom set of blades provided in the conduit bottom portion and including bottom blades circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the lower flow rate in the conduit; wherein the top and bottom blades have different configurations.
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Specification